Celebrity death thread 2026

[Channel98]

Among Lee's Broadway credits are High Button Shoes, Peter Pan, Hotel Paradiso, Ballet: U.S.A. and Sunday In New York. Her memoir, I've Slept With Everybody, was published in 2009.

Original Hello, Dolly! Star Sondra Lee Dies at 97

Ms. Lee originated the role of Minnie Fay in the Jerry Herman musical.

playbill.com

 

[scotchandcigar]

Ok, this is new (I think)

Wu-Tang Clan Co-Founder Oliver 'Power' Grant Dead at 52

Oliver 'Power' Grant, who died at age 52, played a pivotal role in the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan, and oversaw their business empire.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[HecticArt]

Second for Power.

 

[Channel98]

Brown played Officer Bobby Brown in 12 episodes of The Wire (2002-08) and appeared in 12 movies and TV movies including Fishbowl, Miss Virginia, Nocturnal Agony, From Within, Love The Hard Way, My One & Only, City By The Sea and The Pennsylvania Miners' Story.

Bobby J. Brown, Actor on ‘The Wire,’ Dies at 62

Bobby J. Brown, best known for his portrayal of Officer Bobby Brown in “The Wire,” died Tuesday after a barn fire in Maryland. He was 62.

variety.com

 

[Channel98]

Sedaka had 21 top-40 hits, seven top-tens, and three number-ones: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (1962), Laughter In The Rain (1974) and Bad Blood (a duet with Elton John, 1975). Among his other hits are Calendar Girl, Little Devil, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Oh! Carol, Stairway To Heaven (no, not the Led Zeppelin song!), The Diary, The Immigrant and Next Door To An Angel.

Neil Sedaka, singer whose hits included "Laughter in the Rain," dies at 86

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for his hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and "Calendar Girl," has died.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Sedaka had 21 top-40 hits, seven top-tens, and three number-ones: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (1962), Laughter In The Rain (1974) and Bad Blood (a duet with Elton John, 1975). Among his other hits are Calendar Girl, Little Devil, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Oh! Carol, Stairway To Heaven (no, not the Led Zeppelin song!), The Diary, The Immigrant and Next Door To An Angel.

Neil Sedaka, singer whose hits included "Laughter in the Rain," dies at 86

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka, known for his hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" and "Calendar Girl," has died.

www.cbsnews.com

Second. Almost saw him in concert with my wife. But COVID and then his health prevented it.

 

[Channel98]

One day in 1974 my sister told me she heard a new song she liked but she didn't hear the name of the woman who sang it. It was Laughter In The Rain. "That's not a woman," I told her. "It's Neil Sedaka." All she could say was......."Oh."

 

[scotchandcigar]

Third for Neil.

 

[Channel98]

Neil Sedaka wrote Love Will Keep Us Together and recorded it with 10cc (Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley, Laurence "Lol" Creme, Eric Stewart) for his 1973 album The Tra-La Days Are Over. A version by The Captain & Tennille was number one for four weeks in June-July 1975. Here is Neil's original:

 

[sadchild]

One day in 1974 my sister told me she heard a new song she liked but she didn't hear the name of the woman who sang it. It was Laughter In The Rain. "That's not a woman," I told her. "It's Neil Sedaka." All she could say was......."Oh."

There's a thread for that....and you've already posted it there! Well done!

https://digitalradiocentral.com/threads/mistaken-identity-dude-sounds-like-a-lady-shes-a-self-made-man.25439/post-503692

 

[Madison]

The headline calls him a "Star Trek actor." John Wheeler was in only one episode in 1967– but he appeared in 38 movies and TV movies including Mame, Apollo 13, Bad Georgia Road, Big Bad Mama, Cold Steel, Meet The Santas, Runaway Father, Sweet Charity, Golden Child, Support Your Local Gunfighter, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, The Silent Gun, The North Avenue Irregulars and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.

Star Trek actor John Wheeler dead at 95

https://parade.com/news/star-trek-actor-john-wheeler-dead-at-95

I will last second, second this one. That Star Trek episode is not one of my favorites but it did introduce Spock's father Sarek into Star Trek.
And I never saw the Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again but I have a dvd copy of The Apple Dumpling Gang. So close by association

 

[Madison]

Oops. I was wrong. I own a copy of "The Over The Hill Gang". Then they made a sequel with Fred Astaire called "The Over The Hill Gang Rides Again"
No John Wheeler in that movie

 

[Channel98]

In The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975), Bill Bixby plays a gambler who gets stuck taking care of three orphans who eventually discover a huge gold nugget. Tim Conway and Don Knotts co-starred. Conway and Knotts appeared in the sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979), but Bixby and the kids did not. Leonard Maltin gave it two stars: "Usual Disney slapstick, without much zip or originality."

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

In The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975), Bill Bixby plays a gambler who gets stuck taking care of three orphans who eventually discover a huge gold nugget. Tim Conway and Don Knotts co-starred. Conway and Knotts appeared in the sequel, The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979), but Bixby and the kids did not. Leonard Maltin gave it two stars: "Usual Disney slapstick, without much zip or originality."

The Apple Dumpling gang was quite funny. Don't remember much about the sequel but Conway and Knots were probably good for ** on their own.

 

[JHDK]

Trump says ‘there will likely be more’ US deaths as Iran strikes to continue until ‘all’ goals achieved

Three American service members have been killed and casualties are reported in the UAE, Israel and Kuwait as Israel and Iran continue to trade strikes.

www.bbc.com

 

[Wolf]

I'm double checking through February nominations. Here is everyone that has been nominated, unless I miss someone.

Andrew Ranken
Bill Mazeroski
Billy Steinberg
Brad Arnold
Bud Cort
Charles C. Stevenson Jr.
Chuck Negron
Eric Dane
Greg Brown
James Van Der Beek
Jimmy Moschello
John Wheeler
Lauren Chapin
Mickey Lolich
Monti Rock III
Neil Sedaka
Oliver Grant
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Robert Carradine
Robert Duvall
Tom Noonan


I thought Lawrence Welk Jr. was second nominated with some attention. I didn't list him.

 

[sadchild]

Bill Bixby plays a gambler who gets stuck taking care of three orphans

Don't make him angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry...

 

[Channel98]

Wammack had six chart hits including Scratchy in 1964 and Love Being Your Fool in 1975 and played on hundreds of recordings by Clarence Carter, Candi Staton, Little Richard, Delbert McClinton, Aretha Franklin, Bobbie Gentry, Tom Jones, Andy Williams, Liza Minnelli, Lou Rawls, Paul Anka, Percy Sledge, Mac Davis, Wilson Pickett, Tony Joe White, Peter & Gordon, the Osmonds and many others.

'Fastest guitar player in the South,' Travis Wammack, passes away

FLORENCE — Rock ‘n’ Roll guitarist, former band leader for Little Richard and music producer Travis Wammack died Friday at age 81, according to a social media post by his

www.timesdaily.com

 

[Channel98]

Hammond released 30 studio albums and four live albums. Among his best-known songs are Spoonful, Nadine, My Babe, I'm A Man, Evil Is Going On, Statesboro Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, Who Do You Love, Big Boss Man, 32-20 Blues, Keys To The Highway and Baby Please Don't Go.

John Hammond, Blues Singer-Guitarist, Dies at 83 - Best Classic Bands

John Hammond, the blues guitarist and singer who released more than 30 albums during his six-decade career, has died.

bestclassicbands.com

 

[HecticArt]

Hammond released 30 studio albums and four live albums. Among his best-known songs are Spoonful, Nadine, My Babe, I'm A Man, Evil Is Going On, Statesboro Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, Who Do You Love, Big Boss Man, 32-20 Blues, Keys To The Highway and Baby Please Don't Go.

John Hammond, Blues Singer-Guitarist, Dies at 83 - Best Classic Bands

John Hammond, the blues guitarist and singer who released more than 30 albums during his six-decade career, has died.

bestclassicbands.com

Second